Issue - meetings

To approve the key principles of a chargeable garden waste scheme as highlighted in paragraph 1 for the purpose of public consultation prior to a decision on implementation by Council

The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability submitted a report which sought to approve the key policies, principles and service standards for the charged garden waste service which was approved by Council on 29 January 2020 as part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan which identified that an income of £400,000 could be achieved for 2021. 

Councillor McAndrew said that the coronavirus had had a significant impact on the Council’s budget and there was a greater challenge to balance the budget and to provide statutory services and services to those who needed them. The report set out a proposed approach as a basis for consultation before the matter was considered by Council in January 2021.  He explained that charging for garden waste which was currently free, would be a difficult decision but collection of garden waste was a non-statutory function. 

Councillor McAndrew said that a charged service would enable the Council to provide a service to residents who needed it and not charge those residents who did not need the service, such as those living in flats. He explained that many Local Authorities throughout the country charged for the collection of garden waste including the Council’s Hertfordshire neighbours. He asked Members to approve the key principles of the scheme out outlined in the report, for the purpose of consultation, prior to a decision on implementation by Council.

There being no comments, Councillor McAndrew proposed and Councillor Rutland-Barsby seconded a motion supporting the recommendation in the report.  On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the key principles of a chargeable garden waste scheme as highlighted in paragraph 1 for the purpose of public consultation be approved, prior to a decision on implementation by Council.